SLA forces Vanni patients to switch ambulances in Oamanthai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 December 2007, 01:25 GMT]A recent Claymore attack carried out by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) at Mudkompan, Pooneryn, that seriously injured the driver of the Mu'langkaavil hospital ambulance has resulted in the SLA introducing new regulations limiting the transport of patients by ambulance from Vanni only up to Omanthai.

Meanwhile, the injured driver has been admitted to Kilinochchi hospital for further treatment

According to SLA regulations implemented 25 November, the ambulances carrying patients from Vanni to Vavuniya hospital are stopped at Omanthai check point, patients forced to get down, subjected to rigorous checking, and then transported in SLA- operated ambulances to Vavuniyaa.

Nearly 45 patients from the General hospitals in Ki’linochchii, Mullaitheevu and from Puthukkudiyiruppu regional hospital in Vanni are transported to Vavuniyaa hospital for further treatment on a daily basis.

The patients include expectant mothers, children, women and the elderly. Apart from this some of the patients are seriously ill. Each ambulance arriving from Vavuniyaa transports up to ten patients. After the patients alight from the ambulance at SLA check point in Omanthai only three of them are allowed into the SLA operated ambulances and taken to Vavuniyaa, escorted by armed SLA troopers, sources said.

The rest of the patients including those requiring emergency treatment have to languish at the check point awaiting the arrival of the next SLA-operated ambulance from Vavuniyaa.

Meanwhile, the ambulances which brought patients up to Omanthai are forced to wait long hours till the army operated ambulances return from Vavuniyaa.